Interior Secretary Deb Haaland told Congress on Wednesday that she has never been to the southern border during her tenure, even though record numbers of immigrants are dumping tons of trash on government property. Admitted.
“About 40 percent of our southern border is federal land,” said Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.). 2025 budget We talk to Mr. Harland. “Is trash on federal land along the border a problem?”
“Congressman, I’ve never been to the border, so I can’t say that,” Haaland responded.
Tiffany revealed that Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officials told him in February that at least 193 tons of trash was collected at the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2021.
However, the Department of the Interior, which oversees the BLM and manages federal lands, allocated $0 for cleanup efforts in its annual budget.
“One of your priorities is protecting natural resources,” Tiffany told Haaland. “Will dumping 193 tons of trash on federal land protect natural resources?”
“Obviously not,” Haaland acknowledged.
In November, Tiffany introduced the Border Disposal Act, which would require the Interior Department and the U.S. Forest Service to remove plastics, medical products and human waste that are piling up in border areas.
Human waste can contaminate local drinking water and disrupt crop production on farms.
According to the study, each immigrant throws away 6 to 8 pounds of trash when entering the United States. report Adding illegal trails from campfires and intersections can also destroy natural habitat, according to the conservative Heritage Foundation.
Since President Biden took office, Customs and Border Protection has arrested more than 7.6 million immigrants who have illegally crossed the southern border into the United States. data show.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who was impeached in February but never faced a Senate trial on charges of failing to enforce immigration laws, told Border Patrol agents in January that he had arrested 85 migrants. He said more than % would later be released to the United States.
Haaland, 63, is a former Democratic congressman from New Mexico who was confirmed by Senate Democrats in 2016. partisan voteis responsible for overseeing more than 500 million acres of federal and tribal lands.
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), who presided over Wednesday’s budget hearing, said this was a “new step in holding the Biden administration accountable for its misuse of taxpayer funds.” “This is an important step forward.”
“Despite claims to the contrary, the administration ignores local voices at every turn and silences them in pursuit of radical environmental policies,” Westerman said in a statement. Ta.
“Every community is now a border community as we have seen illegal drug cartels targeting Indian lands and threatening their members with violence,” he added.
Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) said the Natural Resources Committee recently held a hearing with several tribal members targeted by the New Generation cartel in Sinaloa and Jalisco. .
“As a member of a federally recognized tribe, I believe you care about ensuring the safety of our tribal community,” Hageman told Haaland, a member of the Laguna Pueblo Tribe. Told. “Have you spoken with President Biden or Secretary Mayorkas about the negative impact the administration’s border policies have had on tribal communities?”
“Congressman, I haven’t thought about it yet,” Haaland said.
“Have you taken any action in collaboration with other agencies to address human trafficking and drug trafficking within India related to the border crisis?” Hageman also followed up.
“That’s not the ministry’s mission,” Haaland responded. “We manage Department lands and we also uphold the trust and treaty obligations of our Indian tribes.”
